Bugging Out

So, in case you missed it, I have a horrible reaction to bug bites. Spider, mosquito, sand flea, whatever: it bites me, I have an allergic reaction. I always seem to get bug bites at the best times, like on my honeymoon, or before big birthday bashes. For the last five days, I have been dealing with another bug bite situation.

I noticed my first bite on Friday night. I’d just arrived at my friend Maya’s house in Brooklyn, and when I sat down on her couch I felt a little itch on my ankle. On investigation, I found two bites on the front of my ankle. “Please don’t get all gross and swollen,” I thought. That night when I put on my pajamas, I discovered two more bites on the outside of leg, about two inches above the ankle. I made that face where you know things aren’t going to end well, but there’s nothing you can do.

But, in the morning, the bites on my left leg weren’t swollen! It was a miracle!! Then I noticed the bites on my right leg were swollen. What bites on my right leg, you ask? EXACTLY. Overnight, two more bites had surfaced on the outside of my right leg, above the knee. And they were angry. Very angry. And unfortunately, by the time I made it into Manhattan on Saturday evening, the bites on my left leg had decided they wanted in on the action.

I had meetings starting at 7:15am on Sunday in lead up to the summit I was attending, and I was in such a hurry to be on time that I didn’t realize my bites were in BAD SHAPE until I sat down at a table. My legs were throbbing and each bite (six in all) were swollen and radiating heat. AND I literally didn’t have a break until 10pm. I tried to distract myself from the pain and itchiness until it got to be too much. I quickly snuck out of the building the summit was in and ran around the corner to a Duane Reade, where I bought some extra strength Benadryl spray.

Back at the summit, I carefully sprayed the bites and waited for the instant relief that the pharmacist had promised. Instead, I had the complete opposite reaction. The bites immediately started stinging and, um, oozing. I wanted to cry and maybe barf but mostly, I wanted to cut my legs off.

The second my day ended, I ran to another drug store and bought the most popular suggestions from my Facebook plea for help.

I also had a mini bar at my disposal.

I applied the Cortizone stick to my ankle bites, the tea tree oil to the bites above my ankle, and the teething gel to my right leg’s bites. And then I got into the hotel bed and wiggled around so the sheets would “massage” my bites. Pathetic, I know. And obviously, I ate the entire pint of ice cream because I didn’t have a freezer in my room and I’m not wasteful.

Verdicts:
Teething gel made my bites smell like cherry (I probably should have bought unflavored…)
Tea tree oil made my bites smell like the woods
Cortizone stick might have worked a little bit, but it was also mixed with my tears so I don’t know which active ingredient was responsible.

But! I managed to fall asleep. That was also likely due to the Benadryl oral medication I took.

Thennnnn….on Monday morning I woke up with my eyes practically swollen shut. I might have screamed, “THE BUGS BIT MY EYES!” because I find yelling loudly in the early morning hours in a hotel room to be soothing. I ran the water in my sink until it was piping hot and stuck my face into the steam for ten minutes. That helped a lot, but I still looked like I’d been through something.

Let’s pretend my nose was swollen, too.

Oh and my legs were still a mess. Flying home (in a middle seat) later that afternoon felt fantastic! And by fantastic I mean I felt like I had a ticket to hell and the plane was speeding me there.

The last few days I have been on a steady diet of Benedryl and gatorade. The Benedryl helps with the allergic reaction, the gatorade helps with the bug bite migraine that started on Monday night. Last night was the first night I started to feel human again.

I still don’t know what bit me, but I have decided to purchase an anti-mosquito suit that I can wear whenever I leave the house. I am 100% serious! I will look amazing in mesh.

Becca says:

How were you not freaking out at the idea of bed bugs?!? (Obviously, the first two bites were from before your hotel so it wasn’t bed bugs.. but bed bugs to me are like spiders – if I woke up with an extra bite or two I’d probably burn every single belonging I own, regardless of whether it was actually on the trip with me. Safety first.)

Susan says:

I find that ice cream and Benadryl can fix a host of issues. Seriously though, I’m sorry you had to endure that especially while away from home. I’m headed to the beach next week and if I’m not careful, I have a fun reaction to sun/sand where my feet turn red, hot, blister and swell. It’s not sunburn but some other odd reaction to the sun. Ugh.

Lisa says:

Sorry your trip didn’t go as planned. Glad you mentioned Maya, every time you do I ask, when is she gonna blog again???

I have had what I can only describe as hives, very itchy ones, on and off for about 3 months. Never have I had this before. And it is not bed bugs or fleas. The only thing that works is Zyrtec. Not Benadryl, not Claritan, only Zyrtec. I think it may be stress related, but it has been a real pita. Good luck to you!

Renee says:

The SAME thing happens to me when I get bit by bugs, especially mosquitoes! I seriously look like I just got done paint-balling, and my reaction is almost immediate. The midwest mosquitoes are radioactive! I never reacted like that living in CA. I, myself, ordered this about a month ago (Insect, Bug & Mosquito Pop-Up Screen Chair Tent), unfortunately it’s on backorder; but at least it will come in handy next year. I’m bringing this with me everywhere!

Cheryl says:

I feel your pain, only I had an allergic reaction to a sunless tanning mousse (thought it would be easy to apply, which it was) I broke out in hives on my arms and legs and they itched and oozed for two weeks straight. I tried everything that the pharmacist recommended and calamine was the only thing that even gave me temporary relief . It has now been over 3 weeks and they are FINALLY starting to heal. Baths in Dr. Teals Milk and honey bath have been the only thing that has helped my legs to start healing.

Shay says:

So weird to be actually commenting bc I’ve been reading your site for maybe 9 years totally silently, butttt…
I was allergy tested and the tests showed I just generally am an overproducer of histamine. Any “allergic” reaction gets a huge histamine response. I don’t think there’s anything to do about it (unfortunately) but I also blow up over bug bites. So, maybe a cause without a great solution for you!

Sarah says:

I have the same reaction to bug bites! I was diagnosed with chronic hives in high school after I started having allergic reactions to random things (and allergy tests proved nothing), but I didn’t have any issues for almost 10 years. Then I got a handful of bug bites a few years ago around my ankles and I’ve been having reactions to bug bites (and a few other things) since then. I think it is a histamine issue, which explains the chronic hives with no explanation too. Oftentimes, without bug bites I don’t have a full blown attack but instead my skin gets really red and itchy, usually when I have red wine or other foods high in histamines.

I went to a dermatologist and she prescribed a high dose of Claritin nightly and it seems to have helped. It still happens sometimes, but with less frequency. And when I need it, I can always take an extra Claritin.

Jerilynn says:

Heather, this sounds like hell. I am so sorry. I wonder if an epi pen would help? Is this the type of thing that can get worse? I had a similar reaction with bee stings until-surprise-by my seventh attack I couldn’t breathe. Cortisone shots might be the other thing that would work. I pray you get answers and relief soon.

Vicky says:

I’m sure you’ve tried steroids, right?? I keep prednisone on hand for reactions that I have to wasp/bee stings. Ocassionally I get hives for no apparent reason and prednasone reverses it pretty quickly. That is the only thing that works for me. I do feel sorry for you cause those reactions can be miserable. Maybe Off or something similar every day?? Good luck!

Jen R. says:

Based on this and other allergic reactions you’ve discussed, like cats and pollen and such, I wonder if you’ve considered immunotherapy shots? I have similar allergies and they helped me a ton.
I hope Dr. Looove has some helpful suggestions for you soon!

Kim K says:

Jackson says:

I hate to say this but do you realize what you are asking about? I just read about the gene and related health conditions and I do not see any relationship of this to what Heather describes. Are you a geneticist?

Mel J. says:

I am outdoors a lot in the summer. This summer, especially I am eaten alive by mosquitos. The bites swell up and are huge. Tries this: Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent from Amazon and put it ob whenever I go out. It’s amazing how well it works. Only downside is it’ leaves your skin sticky. But, I’ll take that over killer bites.

Chris says:

I swell up like that from mosquito. Earlier this summer a friend told me to put hydrogen peroxide on a bite as soon as I notice it (usually as the darn thing is flying away because that’s how fast I swell!) I did this and was amazed- the swelling and the itching was about a tenth what it usually is. Not sure I can carry a jug of it around with me all summer but I’m tempted….

Leah says:

Huh, this is weird. I live in Brooklyn and normally I don’t have strong reactions to bug bites but I have a couple of big ones on my back/shoulder area right now, all swollen and itchy/ouchy. Wonder what it is?

Jackson says:

LM says:

I was totally with you on the bug bites! I’ve dealt with many bites and infections over the years (pretty much every vacation ever, including my honeymoon).

So, this spring, I woke up one morning with a few bites on my leg and ankle and a few more popped up later in the day. Then they got puffy and red and terrible and infected looking, so I strolled into the doctor and was like “yeah yeah another bite.” Except this time he told me it was actually a rash caused by a bacteria called MRSA, a staff-like infection, that people mistake for bug bites. It needed to be wiped out with mega antibiotics, and was causing other symptoms like fatigue and headaches. You can be a carrier without really knowing and only have flare ups!

Just another tool in your arsenal for discussions with Dr. Love, for what it may be worth. Feel better!